Summary:
Union General Robert Patterson writes from Chambersburg in June, 1861, to report on the progress of his advance toward Harper's Ferry. He details some troop movements, and mentions his intention to leave Chambersburg for Hagerstown.

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Col. E. D. TOWNSEND:

CHAMBERSBURG,

June 15, 1861.

Have advanced under Gen. Cadwalader First, Second, Third, Fourth, and part of Fifth Brigades, and the first four are beyond Hagerstown. I go to-day with my staff. Gen. Cadwalader is ordered to exercise the greatest caution, feeling his way under careful reconnaissance under Capt. Newton. Reports from Capt. Newton are that Harper's Ferry is abandoned and destroyed. I believe it designed for a decoy.

R. PATTERSON,
Maj.-Gen., Commanding.

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Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 2, Serial No. 2, Pages 686, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.